OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — A city councilman in Overland Park, Kansas, says two school principals have reached out to him with concerns about speeding drivers on Switzer Road between 123rd and 129th streets.
This is the same stretch of road where police say a man drove onto the sidewalk in April hitting Alex Rumple, 14, who was walking home from middle school. Rumple died at the hospital. In an initial police report, the driver told investigators his brakes failed.
“Oh my god, what a tragedy. I don't know what caused it, but we need to find out and we need to see what we can do to address further tragedies like that,” said Councilman Fred Spears.
As the chair of Overland Park’s Public Works Committee, Spears asked the city’s traffic engineer to lead a discussion on speed limits at Wednesday’s meeting.
“When I talked to the two principles of Oxford Middle and Oak Hill Elementary School, they expressed a concern about speed limits so I said I would make sure we discuss that at committee level to determine what options could or might be available,” Spears said.
Wednesday’s agenda does not include any actionable item, simply a discussion. Committee members will have to bring any suggestions forward at a future meeting. Options for possible changes include traffic studies or increased speed enforcement by police officers.
The Public Works Committee meets at 7 p.m. in conference room 1 at Overland Park City Hall, 8500 Santa Fe Dr.
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